want to alert any of the guards who patrolled the property. No one but her questioned why they needed them. Did everyone think someone was out to steal their bumper crop of apples?
No. Gabriel hid something much more valuable and dangerous on the property.
If he discovered what she’d done with it, she’d suffer the same fate as Lucy.
If Gabriel succeeded with his campaign to brainwash everyone into thinking his way would bring them unimaginable prosperity, she feared for everyone’s safety.
What she saw for Sunrise’s future frightened her.
What used to be home, a simple life on this thriving farm, now felt like corruption of everything she’d been taught to believe in and trust.
Gabriel had always pushed the boundaries. His father had tried to reel him in with reason and appealing to his better nature.
Too bad Gabriel didn’t have one.
Now, no one even tried to steer Gabriel away from the dangerous path his compass pointed him down.
No one dared.
So she’d have to be the one to put up the roadblocks and stop him before he reached the point of no return and more innocent people got hurt.
She arrived at the cabin where Gabriel had ordered the young women who were to be married off tomorrow to gather for their last night as bachelorettes. She had been told to join them and enjoy the treats Gabriel had arranged for the ladies before their morning weddings and the reception brunch.
She wondered how Gabriel planned to get her to walk down the aisle.
Didn’t matter now. She wouldn’t be there.
Neither would the other women. She hoped. They deserved to make up their own minds about whether or not they really wanted to marry Gabriel’s men—his guard, as she thought of them.
She rushed into the cabin and stopped short when she spotted the ladies sitting in a group, enjoying tea and cake. Such a sweet scene compared to the gruesome one she’d left at Gabriel’s place.
The young ladies stared up at her, shocked by her sudden entrance, worry and resignation in some of their eyes.
Sue stood and took a step toward her. “Skye, what’s wrong? Has something happened?”
She didn’t have time to explain. If Gabriel caught her with the files she took . . . if he knew she’d seen what he’d done . . . she didn’t want to think about what he’d do.
Maybe some of these young ladies wanted to get married. She’d bet, given a chance to really think things through and make their own decisions without Gabriel’s influence, they’d choose differently.
“Skye, are you okay?” Sue took another step toward her, wanting to help.
They all did. They were all so eager to help, so eager to please.
And that would be their downfall if they continued to just go along without questioning Gabriel and his motives.
“Would you like to leave?” The broad question raised some eyebrows.
Alice surveyed the spread before them, then looked up at her. “But what about our party? We don’t want to upset Gabriel by leaving without finishing after he did this for us.”
No. No one wanted to upset Gabriel.
“Gabriel suggested we see a movie.” It was a treat they weren’t likely to pass up. Once she got them away from the farm and Gabriel’s influence, she’d explain what had happened and let them decide if they wanted to return and get married—or not. She hated to lie to them, but telling them about Lucy’s murder would only delay them longer. They’d panic. “If you want to go, we have to go now.” She waved them to come along.
Finally, they abandoned their cups and half-eaten plates of food and headed for the door, happy to get away for another special treat.
Alice stopped next to her and smiled. “Gabriel has been so kind. He’s given us so much. I worried about marrying Michael. He’s so much older than me.”
Yeah, the twelve-year age gap should make Alice wonder what they really had in common and if they could make it long-term.
“I barely know him,” Alice went on. “But Gabriel has done so much to make this a wonderful experience. I know it’s meant to be, just like he said.” Alice uttered the words, but a lot of fear and reluctance filled her eyes.
Skye wondered if she’d been that naïve and stupid at seventeen. Had she ever blindly followed without question?
No. Which is how she got herself into this predicament.
“Alice, Gabriel can’t force you to marry Michael.”